S3E07 | There’s Always a Way | 有志竟成
Saying: “The person who has the will”
Pinyin: Yǒu zhìzhě Shì jìng chéng
Chinese: 有志者事竟成
This week’s Chinese Saying comes from a story direct from the Eastern Han Dynasty. It features the heroic Liu Xiu, better known as the Guangwu Emperor who gave us this useful idiom when he praised the star of our episode.
Listen On Your Favorite Podcast Player
Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chéng | 成 | to accomplish or succeed |
| Chéngyǔ | 成语 | A Chinese Saying or idiom |
| Former Hàn Dynasty | 前汉 | The first half of the Han Dynasty. It ran from 206 BCE to 9 CE |
| Gěng Yǎn | 耿弇 | The hero of this episode |
| Hàn Guāngwǔ | 汉光武 | Liu Xiu's Temple name for which he is better known |
| Hán Xìn | 韩信 | Great Western Han general who died in 196 BCE, one of the Three Heroes of the Han Dynasty |
| Hòu Hàn Shū | 后汉书 | The book of the Later Han |
| Jìng | 竟 | to finish or complete something |
| Jìng chéng | 竟成 | to finish and accomplish |
| Later Hàn | 后汉 | The second half of the Han Dynasty. This one ran 25 to 220 CE |
| Liú Xiù | 刘秀 | Restored the Han Dynasty in 25 CE and reigned until 57 CE. |
| Luòyáng | 洛阳 | Located in Henan Province, site of a few dynasties |
| Línzī | 临淄 | Ancient name for Zibo |
| Qí State | 齐国 | Ancient Zhou era state in Shandong |
| Shì | 事 | matters or affairs, things to do, business |
| Shāndōng Province | 山东省 | Coastal province in China that was made up of the states of Qi and Lu |
| Wáng Mǎng | 王莽 | High ranking Han official who usurped the throne, ruling from 9-23 CE |
| Yǒu | 有 | to have |
| Yǒu zhì | 有志 | to have the will or determination |
| Yǒu zhìzhě | 有志者 | the person who has the will |
| zhì | 志 | will or determination |
| Zhāng Bù | 张步 | Warlord during this era who was giving the Guangwu Emperor some heat |
| Zhāngjiākǒu | 张家口 | City located just southwest of Beijing |
| Zībó | 淄博 | The capital of ancient Qi, called Linzi back then |
